Mount Kailash
Location
About
A 6,638-meter peak in the Tibetan Himalayas, Mount Kailash is the most sacred mountain in the world, revered simultaneously by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and followers of the Bon religion. It has never been climbed (an agreement among nations and religious communities), making it uniquely untouched by human achievement. Circumambulating the mountain (parikrama) — a 52 km walk at high altitude — is a supreme act of pilgrimage.
Significance
Mount Kailash is believed in Hinduism to be the abode of Lord Shiva, seated on its summit in eternal meditation. In Buddhism it is Mount Meru, the axis of the universe. For Jains it is where their first Tirthankara Rishabha attained liberation. The Bon tradition considers it the soul of all Tibet. The mountain's perfect four-sided pyramid shape — oriented to the cardinal directions — adds to the sense of cosmic geometry.
History & Historical Arc
The first Western explorer to reach the mountain was a Swedish geographer Sven Hedin in 1907. The region was the homelan…
Archaeological Notes
No archaeological excavation has been conducted at the mountain itself. The nearby ancient monastery of Chiu Gompa and t…
Key Features & Structures
- Mount Kailash summit (6,638m, unclimbed)
- Parikrama pilgrimage route (52 km)
Visitor Information
Requires Chinese government permit and Tibet travel permit. Accessed from Lhasa or Nepal. Best May-September. High altit…
Related Figures
In the Bible
Source References
- Shiva Purana, Kailasa Mahatmya
- Evans-Wentz, Tibet's Great Yogi Milarepa (1928)